First Round's on Me

Norense Odiase spent most of his life chasing one dream: basketball.A former Division I athlete and professional basketball player, Norense helped Texas Tech make history, ultimately reaching the 2019 National Championship game. But behind the success, recognition, and accomplishments was a much more complicated story.In Part 1 of our conversation, Norense sits down with Joe and Hannah to talk about the experiences that shaped him ...

Sterling Cooper has seen intimacy from a perspective few people ever will.After years working in the adult film industry, Sterling transitioned into coaching men and women on confidence, attraction, intimacy, and relationships.In this episode of First Rounds On Me, Hannah sits down with Sterling to unpack what men and women actually want—and how much of what we've learned about sex and relationships may be completely wrong.Th...

What does it actually take to generate 250 million views a month?This week on First Rounds On Me, Joe and Hannah sit down with Matthew Shaw, founder and CEO of Bebida, the media company behind some of the internet’s most recognizable sports, pop culture, and entertainment content.Matthew breaks down how he went from working a 9-to-5 he hated to building a massive digital media company, why committing to consistent content cha...

What does it take to go from an intern working behind the scenes to becoming a host on one of the most legendary radio stations in the country?In this episode of First Rounds On Me, Joe and Hannah sit down with Miabelle, a host and on-air personality at HOT 97, as well as a producer and writer whose career has been shaped by music, culture, community, and genuine human connection.Miabelle shares how listening to radio as a child in...

Survivor winner Kyle Fraser returns to First Round’s On Me to introduce Paprclip, a social accountability app designed to help people accomplish goals, build better habits and strengthen their relationships together.Kyle explains how an unexpected moment involving a cartoon and a paperclip inspired the original idea—and how his secret Survivor alliance with Kamilla Karthigesu eventually evolved into a real-world busines...

Survivor 45's Kellie Nalbandian became one of the season's most respected strategic players, but the biggest lessons she learned weren't just about the game—they were about people.Joined by her wife, Gabrielle Bellettieri, this episode explores what Survivor reveals about human nature, what makes relationships last, and why becoming the best version of yourself often starts with having the right person beside you.Kellie share...

What happens when two entrepreneurs decide to build a business together?In this episode of First Round's On Me, Joe and Hannah sit down with Jeffrey Carlson and Gabriela Desposito- Carlson, founders of Barkhouse NYC, to discuss entrepreneurship, marriage, hospitality, community, and raising a family while building a growing business.They dive into the philosophy behind creating memorable customer experiences, why attention to detai...

Over the last year, everything changed.Joe and Hannah became parents, welcomed their son Leo into the world, rebuilt businesses, launched new ventures, opened a physical space in New York City, and navigated one of the most challenging seasons of their lives.In this deeply personal episode, they reflect on parenthood, marriage, ambition, gratitude, family, sacrifice, and what it really takes to build a life you're proud of while ra...

We’re living through one of the strangest contradictions in human history: we’ve never had more ways to connect, yet people have never felt more alone.In this episode, we break down “The Loneliness Economy” — the systems, apps, corporations, habits, and cultural shifts quietly profiting from isolation, convenience, doomscrolling, and digital dependency.From social media addiction and influencer culture...

What happens when you sit down with a pastor and ask every difficult question you’ve been afraid to say out loud?In this episode, we’re joined by Pastor Ryan Schlachter of Legacy Church in NYC for one of the deepest conversations we’ve ever had on the podcast. We talk about faith, science, suffering, morality, heaven, relationships, sex before marriage, evolution, free will, and what it actually means to believe i...

Actor and former professional basketball player Everett Osborne joins First Round’s On Me for a powerful conversation about reinvention, identity, faith, failure, and the courage it takes to start over. Everett opens up about walking away from basketball, stepping into acting, starring as Sweetwater Clifton, and learning how to trust the process when life forces you into a new chapter.Joe, Hannah, and Everett also dive into p...

When was the last time you actually saw your friends… not texted them?In this episode of First Round’s On Me, we break down why making plans feels harder than ever—and why your social life might be slipping without you even realizing it.We talk about:Decision fatigue and why you’re always “too tired”Why people cancel plans more than everHow technology is replacing real connectionWhy friendships ...

In this episode of First Round’s On Me, we dive into one of the most honest conversations about motherhood, ambition, and identity.Laura Alcantara Landsburg shares her journey of losing herself for 15 years in marriage and motherhood—and how she rebuilt her life through art, creativity, and emotional release.We talk about:The guilt of wanting more than motherhoodLosing your identity in relationshipsBurnout in corporate ...

Kyle and Maggie Fraser join the show to talk about winning Survivor, saying yes to uncomfortable opportunities, and building a marriage through pressure, change, and big life decisions.Kyle shares what it was like winning $1 million on Survivor, how the experience affected their relationship, and why saying yes to things that scare you can completely change your life. We also talk about friendships, moving to New York, career risks...

In this episode of First Round’s On Me, it’s just Joe and Hannah — diving into friendships, vulnerability, spontaneity, and why saying “yes” might be the most powerful habit you can build in New York City.

They talk about male friendships and why affection and vulnerability can feel taboo for men — and how that shifts as you grow older. What makes a friendship real? How do relationships evolve whe...

In this episode of First Round’s On Me, we sit down with Davia Esther — writer, former Miss South Carolina, and fan-favorite from The Bachelor and Bachelor in Paradise.This conversation is raw, reflective, and deeply human.Davia opens up about grief, losing her mother at a young age, and the complicated reality of carrying loss into adulthood. We talk about independence — when it’s empowering, when it become...

In this episode of First Round’s On Me, we sit down with Megan Boni — comedian, viral creator, and the woman behind one of the internet’s most iconic moments: “I’m looking for a man in finance…”Megan opens up about what virality actually feels like, the weirdness of being recognized in real life, and how parasocial love differs from real support and friendship. We talk about creativity spa...

In this episode of First Round’s On Me, we sit down with Jade Shenker — celebrity power broker, luxury real estate expert, and breakout star of Netflix’s Owning Manhattan.Jade opens up about navigating a male-dominated industry, building trust in high-stakes real estate, and what reality TV gets right (and wrong) about luxury life in New York City. We talk about how editing shapes perception, the difference betwee...

In this episode of First Round’s On Me, we sit down with Lindsey Simcik — writer, mother, wife, and co-host of the global podcast phenomenon Almost 30 — for a powerful conversation about the “in-between seasons” of life: the moments where you don’t feel like yourself anymore, but you’re not quite sure who you’re becoming next.Lindsey opens up about building Almost 30 from a closet flo...